Larry at Larry's Images.com: 8/14/11

Saturday, August 20, 2011

A Beetle and a Dead Butterfly

Pennsylvania Leather-wing

The Prairie Dock is nearing the end of its blooming period. This Pennsylvania Leather-wing was on this one the other morning. I knew that I had seen that beetle before but could not remember its name until I looked it up. I think my shows at the nursing homes helped me review my ID's. I am not doing that at present.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

To me, this is art. It evokes emotion in me. I feel sorry that the butterfly is dead. I know that is the way things work in nature but I still feel repulsed by the prospect. The moment that I first saw this, I found the pattern interesting and my eyes went over it trying to organize it. I knew that I recognized it but could not put a name to it. I knew, of course, that it was a butterfly. Unlike the previous insect, this is one that I see almost daily this time of year and know it any time and anywhere. The realization dawned on me as I looked at the rear wing on the right. Then I saw it. There is probably a chance that a bird got this one.

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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Commen Milkweed Inhabitors Addendum

Pennsylvania Firefly

From the Archives, these shots show more animals which inhabit the Milkweed. The Firefly is a winged beetle. The term Crepuscular refers to their being active at twilight. Their light is chemically produced. I learned that some of them can be cannibalistic. Speaking of Fireflies, I don't think that I have seen any this year. Maybe it is because I go to bed too early. Suffice it to say, I have seen them on the milkweed.

Brown Daddy Long-legs

This spider is sometimes called Harvestmen in other locations. I used to recognize it because it has long legs. I had never thought to look closely until I photographed it in an extreme closeup. I then realized that the idea I had of it needed revamping.

Brown Daddy Long-legs

This shot, on a single blossom of the Milkweed, shows the idea changing characteristics of this spider. Wikipedia points out: "They have a single pair of eyes in the middle of their heads, oriented sideways." The eyes are clearly shown on this shot.

If I find or think of any other animals which live on the Milkweed, I will let you know. Do you know of any? I would be interested to hear from you.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Teasel

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Teasel is a favorite flower for several butterflies including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. This specimen was in particularly good shape, meaning that it is probably young. They only live as a individual for a short period, perhaps two weeks.

They have a nectar sipping tube called a proboscis. They stick it into the flower to sip. It looks to me like some the flowers come out remaining on the proboscis. You can see them moving like they are part of the proboscis.

I love to photograph butterflies and am finding that I also like to video them quite a lot. I think that everyone shout take a look at this.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

New Plant becomes Narrow-leaved Willow Herb

Remember this plant!

I blogged about it last Nov. 18. You may remember that we have been waiting on it to bloom so that we could make a more specific ID. Well, it is currently in bloom! It turns out to be the Narrow-leaved Willow Herb (confirmed by Steve McKee at the nature center).

Narrow-leaved Willow Herb

The blooms are fairly small. I might have noticed it blooming previously but have not photographed it. I still have a stem from the previous one lying on my desk. The plant that I was looking for among all the others would have opposite leaves on the stem. This one did and turned out to be the correct one. It grows in a wet place along the trail. Ferns are growing next to it.

Narrow-leaved Willow Herb

I put a Canon 500D closeup filter on my Sigma 105 mm macro lens for this shot. You can see the rose holder in the background. I needed it to stabilize the plant. I shot multiple captures for additional Depth-of-field and used Helicon Focus software to combine them.

Narrow-leaved Willow Herb

I again used the Sigma 105 mm macro for this shot. Instead of the Canon closeup filter I used a Mamiya 50 mm, f/1.7 lens mounted in reverse as a closeup lens. It increases the magnification to near microscopic range. It is a tiny flower which is very beautiful.

I have heard people say that they do not like green as a background color for a flower like this. I discussed this issue with my wife, Carol, and she suggested some other colors and possibly a different crop. What do you think about this for your wall? Does it need a different background?

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Monday, August 15, 2011

More Milkweed Creatures

Large Milkweed Bugs

After we talked about the caterpillar and other insects from the milkweed the other day, I thought that maybe I should show the other insects which I know frequent, if not live on the milkweed. I originally thought that I have shots in the archives I could use but then I saw them the other morning and decided to show you new ones. These bugs are very prevalent on the plant at this time of year. You can find groups of the young without much looking.

Red Milkweed Beetle

This is the one which brought my attention to the difference between bugs and beetles. The words seem to be used interchangeably as the June Bug is really a beetle. The two insects pictured here have names which obviously differ only with the addition of "bug" or "beetle". I was hoping that I could discover unique explanation for you but I did not make it. Sorry! I will entertain any comments on the subject.

Red Milkweed Beetle

This is a shot from the archives back in 2005. I have always liked the face to face confrontation of this shot.

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

A Rock from Reed

Reed Rock

Reed sent me a package in the mail the other day. Inside were three pieces of rock. This one was specially indicated requesting a phone call from me as soon as I identified it. Well, I was photographing frogs and insects but I photographed this the other morning on the way out the door. I was able to get a better look at it. He thought it was a geode. He had recently cracked it open. My first thought was that the light colored rock was quartz. I still think that it is. I eliminated some other possibilities. It does not taste salty and it does not react with HCl, hydrochloric acid. The darker rock surrounding it, looks to me like it could be flint. Somewhere, I seem to remember that there is some relationship between the two. If you happen to know please let me know if I am right, wrong or what. Thanks. Reed and I are counting on you.